Tail light and stop signal



S. J. THOMAS TAIL LIGHT AND STOP' SIGNAL Nov. 20, 1923. I ,7

Filed Oct. 26 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q i 4 fl I 1 q 30 1E=} awmmfoi Die 071622 rZTZw mas Nov. 20 1923.

s, J. THOMAS TAIL LIGHT AND STOP SIGNAL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26. 1.922

Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

UNITED STATES STEPHEN J. THOMAS, 015 YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

TAIL LIGHT AND STOP SIGNAL.

Application filed October 26, 1922. Serial No. 597,126.

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, STEPHEN J. THOMAS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Youn 'stown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvments in Tail Lights and Stop Signals; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in tail lights used on automobiles and other vehicles and has more particular reference to a combined tail light and stop signal, the Object being to improve upon the construction shown by my pending U. S. application, Serial No. 5542M, filedon or about April 17, 1922. With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, the description being supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the invention, showing the lamp bulb carrier and the bulb enclosing hood in place for displaying a red tail light only.

Fig. 2 is a duplicate of Fig. 1, with the exception that it illustrates the bulb carrier and hood moved forwardly in the casing to display the stop sign.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sections, as indicated by lines 4.-land 55 of Fi 1.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the stationary contacts used in supplying current to the illuminating bulb.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 1 designates a casing which is preferably of cylindrical form with its axis disposed horizontally. The front end of this casing may be provided with any appropriate means 2 for attaching it to a bracket carried by an automobile or other vehicle, while the rear end of said casing is closed by a red lens 3, a stencil plate 1 being provided at the front side of said lens. This stencil plate is formed with an opening 5 in its lower portion through which rays of light are directed to form a red tail light, while above the opening 5 letters 6 are cut from the stencil plate so that when rays of light are allowed to shine through the upper portion of the lens, the

word Stop will be displayed. Direction of light rays through the opening 5 only, or through the openings 5 and 6, is controlled by movement of an illuminating bulb '7 within the casing 1 and a hood 8 within which said bulb is mounted.

' The carrier for moving the bulb 7 preferably consists of the arched hood 8 and a front plate 9 to which said hood is secured, the lower edges of said hood being provided with outwardly projecting flanges or shoes 10 which are slidably engaged with parallel tracks 11 in the casing 1. A coiled spring 12 normally forces the bulb carrier to the back of the casing 1 so that the outstanding flange 13 with which the open rear end of the hood 8 is provided, will contact with the stencil plate 1 and prevent the rays. of light from the bulb 7 from shining through any part of the lens 3, except that portion exposed by the opening 5. The appearance at the back of the machine is thus the same as an ordinary tail light, as will be clear by reference to Fig. 1. Means are provided, however, for moving the carrier forwardly within the casing 1, as seen in Fig. 2. Thus, the rays from the bulb 7 will be directed through both the opening 5 and the openings 6, thereby displaying the word Stop.

In the preferred form of construction, a pull rod 14 is secured to and extends forwardly from the bulb carrier, said rod being slidably received in a tubular guide 15 which projects forwardly from the casing. A suitable wire or the like 16 is connected with the rod 14 and leads forwardly to the clutch or brake pedal 17, whereby operation of the latter to stop or check the speed of the machine will move the bulb carrier to the position of Fig. 2, thereby displaying the stop sign.

in the form of construction herein disclosed, the plate 9 is provided with a socket 18 for the bulb 7, this bulb being provided with a single contact 19 while its shell is in electric engagement with the socket, 18, so that the current may travel through the frame of the machine in the usual manner. The contact 19 engages a contact arm 20 mounted on the plate 9, at the front side of the latter, the upper end of said arm being insulated from the plate 9 and having a contact shoe 21 which well be formed of a length of coiled spring, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. When the bulb carrier is in the position. shown in Fig. 1, the shoe 21 engages a relatively long contact strip 22 which extends rearwznrdly from the front end of the casing 1. When the bulb carrier is moved forwardly as in Fig. 2, however, the shoe 21 engages relatively short contact strip 23 which preferably has its free end 24 turned upwardly into a slot 25 in the contact strip 22 so that the end 24- of the contact 22 may present a relatively long curved surface toward the sliding contact 21 to insure a smooth changing of the circuits without the danger of the contact 21 becoming hung upon the end of the contact 23. The two strips 22 and 23 are secured to a pair of terminals 26 of any desired form, said terminals being carried by an appropriate connection 27 extending through the front end of the casing 1.

A current supply wire 28 leads from the battery 29 to the terminal 26 to which the strip 22 is secured, whereby to apply current to the bulb 7 when the parts stand as in Fig. 1. The wire 28, however, is provided with a suitable switch 30 which may be opened during the day time when it is not necessary to display the tail light. The wire 31. which supplies current to the terminal 26 of the strip 28. is not provided with a. switch and thus it will be seen that whenever the bulb carrier is moved forwardly, as seen in Fig. 2, the bulb 7 will be illuminated to display the stop sign.

It may herein be explained that while I have shown a stencil plate 4 in connection with the lens 3 for obtaining the required results, this is not altogether necessary, as portions of the lens might be treated or shaped in such a manner as to clearly dis play the word Stop when the lens is properly illuminated. Moreover while I have disclosed -a plain lens, it will be understood that it might be of such form as to intensify the rays of light from the bulb 7.

In the preferred form of construction, I provide the lower side of the casing 1 with a license plate holder 32 and with an openin g 33- through which light rays are directed onto the license plate.

Excellent results have been obtained from the details disclosed and they are therefore preferably followed. I wish it understood, however, that within the scope of the invention as claimed, numerous minor changes may be made.

I claim:

1. A tail light and signal comprising a casing, a lens closing the rear end of said casing. a bulb carrier in the 'zasing movable forwardly and rearwin'dly and including a rear-wardly opening hood, a. bulb within said hood movable with said carrier, and means for normally holding said carrier back with said hood against the lens, whereby to illuminate a relatively small part of the latter for a tail light, said carrier being movable forwardly to space said hood from the lens and illuminate a greater area of said lens.

2. A tail light and signal comprising a casing, a. lens closing the rear end of said casing. parallel tracks extending longitudinally in said casing, a bulb carrier including a front plate and an arched hood extending rearwardly therefrom of less sizc than said lens, said carrier having shoes slidable along said track. a bulb within said hood supported by said front plate, and mean for holding said carrier back with said hood against said lens, whereby to illuminate a relatively small part of the latter for a tail light, said carrier being mow able forwardly to space said hood from the lens and illuminate a greater area of the latter.

3. A tail light and signal comprising a casing, a lens closing the rear end. thereof. a bulb and a carrier therefor movable forwardly and rearwardly in said casing to illuminate different areas of said lens. a pair of current supply contacts stationarily mounted in said casing and spaced apart longitudinally thereof. and a contact on the carrier cooper-able with one of said stationary contacts when said carrier is in one position and cooperable with the other contact when the carrier is in its other position.

4. A tail light and signal comprising a casing, a lens closing the rear end thereof, a bulb and a carrier therefor movable forwardly and rearwardly in said casing; to illuminate different areas of said lens. a pair of horizontally elongated ontact strips extending into the casing from its front cud out of electric contact with each other one of said strips extending rearwardly beyond the other, and a contact on the aforesaid carrier cooperable individually with said contact strips.

5. A structure as specified in claim t; the longer of said contact strii is having a slot into which the free end of the other contact is turned upwardly.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature.

STEPHEN J; THOMAS. 

